Garden Grove Promised Sound Walls by 2002

Responding to the pleas of two Garden Grove neighborhoods, transportation officials announced Wednesday that they would start construction next summer on two noise reduction walls along the Garden Grove Freeway.

Just days after Caltrans chief Jeff Morales toured Orange County by helicopter and viewed angry messages written on large tarps in the neighborhood, officials said the department is “streamlining” work on the walls. Caltrans officials also told reporters Wednesday that they would not have to seize the homes of any residents to build the walls, a change from previous statements.

The developments, touted at a Garden Grove news conference by state Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana), mean that at least two of seven planned sound walls will be completed in early 2002, rather than later this decade. Neighbors have pleaded for their construction for more than 30 years, but officials said they lacked the funds to do the work.

The first wall will extend for almost half a mile on the westbound side of the freeway, west of the Valley View Street exit. The second wall, also on the westbound side, will be nearly a mile long, east of the Valley View exit.

Residents along Anthony and Christal avenues, which skirt the freeway, responded to the news with skepticism.

“I bought my house here 15 years ago and the selling point then was that they were going to build a sound wall,” said Jim Mabry, 47. “When they said they might have to take some houses to build the wall I really didn’t worry. I doubt the job will ever get done.”

Flora Evans, an Anthony Avenue resident, said she has lived with the blaring of truck horns and the whoosh of traffic for 35 years. She was not particularly excited about the stepped up work schedule.

“I want it done next month,” Evans said.

Dunn and Garden Grove city officials discussed the developments on the steps of City Hall. Dunn said Morales approved the new work schedule after touring Orange County transportation projects by helicopter Monday. Among the sites Morales took in were more than a dozen bright blue tarps hanging from the backyard walls of neighborhood residents. The signs, which have hung there for months, bear such messages as “Caltrans Avoids Us” and “We Need a Sound Wall.”

Morales could not be reached for comment Wednesday and Caltrans officials declined to say whether the messages influenced Morales’ decision. They did confirm that he read the messages.

“Those signs are hard to miss,” said Caltrans spokeswoman Rose Orem-Melgoza.

Work will begin on the walls in July. The walls will stand about 16 feet high and cost $8.4 million.

Local officials said residents are requesting seven walls. Garden Grove Mayor Bruce Broadwater and City Councilman Mark Rosen said they hope to arrange accelerated work schedules for the other walls as well.

“I know it’s only two of the walls, but when we heard we had a chance to move up construction, we jumped at it,” Broadwater said. “When you have someone beating a drum on your ear day and night, you want something done as soon as possible.”

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Sound Barriers

Caltrans will build two walls along the Garden Grove Freeway starting July 2001, ending residents’ 30-year wait for sound relief.